System and method for creating a venturi effect within an orifice

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for accelerating a product through an orifice.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of pending applicationSer. No. 13/199,910 filed on Sep. 12, 2011.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for creating aventuri effect within an orifice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Current forming technology for meat patties relies on high pressure,speed and complicated material flow pathways which produce a productlacking in quality. High pressure works the meat cells, the higher thepressure the more massaging or squeezing of the meat cells takes place.High speed combined with a complicated flow path massages and works themeat product, releasing myosin/actin from the cells causing the musclefiber to bind together and contract (protein bind).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for creating aventuri effect. It is an object of the present invention for the venturieffect to increase acceleration of a product. It is an object of thepresent invention for the venturi effect of the orifice to stretch andalign fibers of the product. It is an object of the present inventionfor a hole or orifice to change size from a larger to a smaller diameterwith vertical or concave sides having a sharp edge. The principle hasdesign similarities to a venturi. It is referred to as a choke plate,nozzle, venturi, orifice, or a restriction to flow which results inproduct acceleration with a corresponding pressure drop through theorifice.

By reducing the diameter of a tube through which a substance passes, thevelocity is increased. This is the principle of Conservation of Mass.When the velocity increases the pressure of the material is reduced.This is the principle of the Conservation of Energy.

For every liquid, there is a ratio between the cross-sectional area (C)and the cross-sectional area (c) through which velocity can only beincreased by reducing temperature or increasing pressure. This sameconcept applies to ground meat. It is impossible to attain choked flowunless there is a transition between the orifices and the small orificehas a finite length.

A venturi allows a smooth transition from a larger orifice to a smallerone. This transition minimizes flow transitions and thereby reducesrestrictions in the system. The transition minimizes energy loss andsupports fiber alignment.

The transition in a venturi is extremely difficult to create in aproduction tooling environment. As a result, using the geometricproperties of a sphere or similar shape allows the ability to obtainmany of the venturi effect properties using standard productionpractices.

All points on a sphere are the same distance from a fixed point.Contours and plane sections of spheres are circles. Spheres have thesame width and girth. Spheres have maximum volume with minimum surfacearea. All of the above properties allow a product to flow with minimuminterruptions. There are not static or dead zones. No matter what anglethe cylinder intersects the sphere, the cross section is always aperfect circle.

It is an object of the present invention to increase product velocityforcing linear fiber alignment.

Air flow can be accelerated by using a system which will reduce thecylinder size. Using the equation from Bernoulli's law of A₁V₁=A₂V₂, thevelocity is increased by reducing the cross sectional area.

The typical way of accomplishing this is the use of a venturi nozzle.However, a venturi requires a gradual area reduction and a finite lengththroat. Given the restrictions in the thickness in most mechanicalpieces, it is not feasible to put a venturi in such a piece ofequipment.

However, utilizing the properties of a sphere, the air can achieveacceleration by intersecting a cylinder with a sphere of a largerdiameter.

In a sphere pressure is equal in all directions. Therefore, when thesphere is intersected by a cylinder, the air will move in a directioncoaxial with the cylinder at a high velocity.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a venturi effect inthe hole by creating a sphere to cylinder hole. This creates a venturieffect or a venturi pump. This accelerates the product through the hole.It is an object of the invention for this to create a self-cleaninghole. The spherical cut creates equal pressure in all directions. It isan object of the present invention for the spherical hemisphere orcurved structure to have a diameter between 1.1 to 2.5 times greaterthan a cylindrical portion which intersects the same. It is preferred tohave a sharper edge from the edge to the hole.

One example of the present invention is to use the venturi effect inholes within a breather plate of a meat patty machine. The breatherplate includes at least one air pressure release passage, wherein aplurality of small breather holes enable the cavities of the mold plateto fluidly communicate with the passage. The air passage enables air inthe cavities to escape as the machine pumps the cavities full of meat.In the case of the current breather plate, the holes are cylindrical andvary in number of holes and diameters.

A further example of the use of the holes having the venturi effect is agrinder plate of a grinding machine. Use of the grinder plate having theorifices of the present invention improves fiber alignment.

A further example of the use of the orifices having the venturi effectis a fill plate which has fill orifices to define paths through the fillplate, wherein some of the paths each have a path portion obliquelyangled or perpendicular to the fill side of the mold plate. The pathscomprise spherical intersections or a curved structure. The side of thefill plate which is in contact with the stripper plate comprises aspherical hemisphere or curved structure which has a diameter betweenapproximately 1.1 to 2.5 times greater than a cylindrical portion whichintersect the top of the mold plate perpendicularly or at an angle ofless than or equal to about +/−75 degrees, or about +/−45 degrees in apreferred embodiment as measured from vertical in the longitudinaldirection of the mold plate. By a reduction in the diameter a“choked-flow” condition is created. By using spherical sections or acurved structure, intersections between cylinder and spheres or curvedstructures create transitions which can be manufactured whose geometryapproaches a venturi style system. It is preferred to have a sharperedge from the edge to the hole. It is an object of the present inventionto make the edge sharper with a grinder. It is an object of the presentinvention for all fill paths to consist of a hemispherical shape whichis intersected by a cylindrical shape at an angle less or equal to about+/−75 degrees of vertical, and preferably about +/−45 degrees ofvertical.

It is an object of the present invention to use spherical geometry, withcylindrical intersections, and the ratio of the diameter of the spheredivided by the area of the cylinder is approximately 1.1 to 2.5 tocreate conditions to meat flow which maintain improved cell structure.

Irregular shapes do not have diameters, but they do have areas. For agiven ratio of a linear item, the ratio becomes the square of the linearratio. For curved and irregular shapes, the ratio of the initial areaand the reduced area is from approximately 1.2 to 6.25.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of the technology in place in the device of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the device of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 shows a drawing of the prior art design.

FIG. 4 shows the technology used in an embodiment of a device of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a device using the technology of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 shows the technology in an embodiment of the device of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the technology in an embodiment of the deviceof the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic showing an enlarged device of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 shows a top view of an embodiment of the device of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged top view of an embodiment of the device of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a side view of an embodiment of the device of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged side view of an embodiment of the device of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an orifice 10 having a spherical section 12 and acylindrical section 14.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the device showing the orifice 10 having aspherical section 12 and a cylindrical section 14. FIG. 2 further showsthe product 16 within the spherical and cylindrical sections.

FIG. 3 shows a venturi 20 comprising a diameter 22 angle transition 24,throat length 26 and discharge 28.

FIG. 4 shows an unassembled view of a fill plate 30, stripper plate 32and a top plate 34.

FIG. 5 shows an assembled view of the fill plate 40, stripper plate 42and top plate 44, further comprising a stripper plate spacer and holddown 46, a cylindrical section 48 and a curved section 50.

FIG. 6 shows plate 60 having orifices 62 and 64 in the breather plate60.

FIG. 7 shows the breather plate 70 having orifices 72 and 74. Thechannels are made up of a spherical section 76 intersecting acylindrical section 78.

FIG. 8 further shows the orifice 74 having the spherical section 76 anda cylindrical section 78.

FIG. 9 shows a grinder plate 100 having orifices 110.

FIG. 10 shows a magnified view of the grinder plate 100 showing theorifices 110.

FIG. 11 shows the grinder plate 100 having the orifices 110. Theorifices comprising a sphere section 112 and a cylinder section 114.

FIG. 12 shows a magnified view of the orifices 110 having a sphericalsection 112 and a cylinder section 114.

The present invention relates to fiber orientation technology. The fiberorientation technology drops pressure across the fill plate, aligns thefibers of meat so that the contraction of the muscle fiber that doestake place is in a direction of choice. The fiber orientation technologyprovides a lower resistance to product flow using a wider opening.

The fiber orientation technology provides a better shear surface for acleaner cut. The fiber orientation technology aligns the fibers in thehole so the shearing action disrupts as few muscle cells as possible.The fiber orientation technology decreases the total area of metal plateblocking the meat flow resulting in less direction change to the productwhich works the meat. The fiber orientation technology pulls the meatfiber through the hole instead of pushing using the principles of theventuri/choke plate.

All of these characteristics of fiber orientation technology reduce therelease and mixing of myosin with actin, the net effect is a controlledorientation of the fiber, less myosin activity.

A fill plate, interposed in the fill passage immediately adjacent to themold plate has a multiplicity of fill orifices distributed in apredetermined pattern throughout an area aligned with the mold cavitywhen the mold plate is in fill position. The fill orifices define pathsthrough the fill plate, wherein some of the paths each have a pathportion obliquely angled or perpendicular to the fill side of the moldplate. The paths consist of spherical intersections or a curvedstructure. The side of the fill plate which is in contact with thestripper consists of a spherical hemisphere or curved structure whichhas a diameter approximately 1.1 to 2.5 times greater than a cylindricalportion which intersect the top of the mold plate perpendicularly or atan angle of less than or equal to about +/−75 degrees, or about +/−45degrees in a preferred embodiment as measured from vertical in thelongitudinal direction of the mold plate. By a reduction in thecross-sectional area a “choked-flow” condition is created. By usingspherical sections or a curved structure, intersections between cylinderand spheres or curved structures create transitions which can bemanufactured whose geometry approaches a venturi style system. All fillpaths consist of a hemispherical shape which is intersected by acylindrical shape at an angle less or equal to about +/−75 degrees ofvertical, and preferably about +/−45 degrees of vertical.

The use of spherical geometry, with cylindrical intersections, and theratio of the diameter of the sphere divided by the diameter of thecylinder is approximately 1.1 to 2.5 creates conditions to meat flowwhich maintain improved cell structure.

In the figure above a fluid enters at the left end of the tuber. Usingconservation of mass and conservation of energy principles the volumerate of flow must be equal at all points in the systems.(ρ₁A₁V₁)=(ρ₂A₂V₂). Since ρ is a constant, velocity is inverselyproportional to cross sectional area. Also, a venturi requires a ramp ofsome finite distance and a throat which also has a finite distance.

A spherical geometry feeding into a circular cross section which createsa product velocity increased while maintaining more consistent pressureon the meat. A sphere has the following properties:

-   -   All points on a sphere are the same distance from a fixed point.    -   Contours and plane sections of spheres are circles.    -   Spheres have the same width and girth.    -   Spheres have maximum volume with minimum surface area.    -   These properties allow meat to flow with minimum interruptions.        There are no static or dead zones.    -   No matter what angle the cylinder intersects the sphere; the        cross section is always a perfect circle.    -   Pressure inside of a sphere is uniform in all directions.

When a product is passed through a circular cross section of a sphere,the fact that pressure is uniform in a sphere creates forces which willbe coaxial with the sphere. The reduction in area accelerates theproduct through the cylindrical section. The acceleration has been shownempirically to align fibers in a product in the primary direct of flow.Hence, there is fiber orientation.

1. An orifice comprised of a spherical section leading into acylindrical section which creates a venturi effect.
 2. The orifice ofclaim 1 wherein said venturi effect improves fiber alignment of amaterial placed through said orifice.
 3. The orifice of claim 1 whereinsaid venturi effect stretches a material drawn through said orifice. 4.The orifice of claim 1 wherein said orifice creates the lowest crosssection through a material passing through said orifice.
 5. The orificeof claim 1 wherein said orifice defines a path, and a plurality of saidpaths each have an outlet path portion at an angle of approximately 0 to75 degrees from center of the orifice vertical axis.
 6. The orifice ofclaim 1 wherein said orifices define a path, and a plurality of saidpaths each have an outlet path portion at an angle of approximately 0 to45 degrees from center of the orifice vertical axis.
 7. The orifice ofclaim 1 wherein said orifices have a diameter such that ratio ofdiameter of spherical section to said diameter of cylindrical area isapproximately 1.1 to 2.5.
 8. The orifice of claim 1 wherein said orificeutilizes intersection of a spherical section with a cylinder in order tocreate a cross section which represents a venturi effect.
 9. A devicecomprising a multiplicity of orifices; said orifices comprise aspherical section which intersects a cylindrical section, wherein ratioof diameter of said spherical section and diameter of said cylindricalsection are of a ratio to create a choked flow effect on product as itpasses through said orifices.
 10. The device of claim 9 wherein saidorifices change size from a larger to a smaller cross-sectional areawith vertical or concave sides having a sharp edge.
 11. A devicecomprising a multiplicity of orifices which comprises a choke plate,nozzle, venturi, or a restriction to flow which results in productacceleration with a corresponding pressure drop through said orifice.